June 2024

Hi All,

Another year gone by and it has been an eventful one, at least health wise. I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and just finished 5 weeks of radiation therapy for Prostate cancer. I call it the ‘old guys cancer’. I know 4 or 5 other guys around my age that have gone through the same thing. Every one of us is still playing music. Haven’t been to a jam lately. That’s by choice. It is a lot more fun just jamming in the my studio in the basement. Myself and Howard Gonyer have been jamming together now for about 40 years and have played every style from jazz to country, rock to fusion. It’s been a real treat to find another musician you gel with.

I took two months off to deal with my cancer treatments and am just getting back to teaching. Haven’t done any gigs yet. Am very apprehensive about gigging. I’ve lost a lot of stamina both from the cancer and from the Parkinson’s. I practice or teach everyday and things are improving. This is very good … good for the mental state. It’s kinda scary when you realize that your playing days might be over. My Parkinson’s is well controlled with medication and hasn’t been an issue when playing drums or guitar.  My vocals seem to be most affected in a negative way by the Parkinson’s.

‘the grey men’ band still consists of myself and Howard. My brother Webb has joined as a bass player, but we are using Marek Orszulik and Peter Boxall as fillins also. Hopefully we will do more gigs this year. Been working on a tune called ‘Growing Old’. Appropriate?

Talk again soon.

Ray